Weather pending, the 22nd annual Founders’ Day parade and celebrations will take place this Friday and Saturday.

Don’t miss the 22nd annual
Founders’ Day, May 18-19
By PATTI STOKES
The Town of Summerfield’s 22nd
annual Founders’ Day celebration
will kick off this Friday evening with
performances by Northern Guilford
High School’s band and chorus, carnival rides, inflatables, rock climbing
and food trucks – lots of food trucks.

The fun will continue on Saturday
morning, beginning at 10 a.m. with
the parade, which will travel along
Summerfield Road, beginning at
Centerfield Road near the elementary school and ending at Oak Street.
As he has for the past two years,
Town Councilman Reece Walker is

heading up this year’s parade. He
follows in the footsteps of his grandfather and former town councilman,
Bob Williams, who headed up the
parade for several years of the parade’s 21-year history.
“It came full circle when it landed

...continued on p. 12

Judge’s actions lead to confusion,
disagreement over implications
By PATTI STOKES
SUMMERFIELD – Whether Todd Rotruck can at least
temporarily participate on the Summerfield Town Council
is a matter of opinion – and opinions vary widely. Rotruck
and his attorney, Marsh Prause, believe the answer is
definitely yes. County Attorney Mark Payne and attorneys
for the Town of Summerfield believe otherwise.

On the morning of May 10, Superior Court Judge
Anderson Cromer indicated he did not have jurisdiction
to rule on a civil action that Rotruck’s attorney, Marsh
Prause, had filed last month in which the Town of Summerfield was named as a defendant. In the lawsuit,
Prause claimed that Rotruck’s constitutional rights had

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by PATTI STOKES
SUMMERFIELD – With several weeks
left in the fiscal year ending June 30,
Summerfield Finance Officer Dee Hall
said the town’s attorney fees have
already exceeded what was budgeted
for FY 2017/18 – and they continue to
mount.
“Through March 31, we paid
$47,225.03 in legal fees,” Hall told the
Northwest Observer on May 10. “We
budgeted $50,000.”
Hall said the town has a $6,500
invoice from Town Attorney William Hill of
Frazier, Hill & Fury for the month of April,
but she can’t pay it until a budget amendment is approved. Invoices for routine
legal representation for May and June are
expected over the next several weeks.
Additionally, last week the town
received an invoice for $4 856.35
from attorney Gray Wilson of Nelson
Mullins, who is representing the Town
of Summerfield in the lawsuit former
town councilman Todd Rotruck filed
last month. At $400 per hour, the bill

Under the advice of Wilson, the majority of the town council voted to cancel
the regular monthly council meeting
scheduled for last Thursday evening, just
a few hours before it was to get underway. Hall said she had planned at that
meeting to request a budget amendment of $40,000 for additional legal fees
to carry the town through June 30.
“I have no idea what May and June
will be,” Hall said. “I hope $40,000 will
cover all the extra legal fees.”
Besides the need for additional
legal representation stemming from
the pending lawsuit, the town attorney
has been in higher demand in recent
months since the merging of new council members with those remaining on
the council after the November election.
Summerfield is also unlike many
other municipalities in that it allows citizens direct access to its town attorney
and pays the legal fees for time spent
during those conversations.
“If you look at our attorney fees,
citizens will call and talk to the attorney and we get the bill,” Hall said.
“That also runs up our legal fees. A lot
of towns say that no one but the manager can talk directly to the attorney.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, a budget
amendment to cover additional attorney
fees had not been approved because the
town council had not yet met in May.

NEWS in brief

Town sets public hearing on
development fee
STOKESDALE – A presentation on
the study of development fees for the
Town of Stokesdale’s water system
will be made during a public hearing
Thursday, May 24, at 7 p.m.

The hearing will be held at Stokesdale Town Hall, 8325 Angel-Pardue
Road. There will be a designated
period for citizen comments.

...continued on p. 5

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I thought the N.C. House
and Senate passed Bill 766 in
2015, making sales of hemp
oil/CBD oil legal in North Carolina. It
contains little or no THC, the active
ingredient in marijuana, and is used
for relief of epilepsy symptoms, among
other diseases. It is not sold in pharmacies, and not generally prescribed by
medical doctors.

If that is correct, then
why is the Sheriff’s Office seizing it in a drug
search, as mentioned in
NWO’s crime report in
the April 5-11 issue? I
understand marijuana
being seized, but not

HOW TO REACH US

28 grams of CBD oil.
Would you ask them to
clarify?
“The new industrial hemp
statutes are complicated
when it comes to what is
permissible and what is not. Giving a
‘one-size-fits-all’ analysis will be very
difficult under these new laws,” said
Jim Secor, attorney for Guilford
County Sheriff’s Office. “That said,
the answer to the reader’s specific
question is that the North Carolina
hemp statutes do not legalize all sales
of hemp oil/CBD oil, as the reader’s
question appears to imply.
“At risk of over-simplifying the
complicated statute, it is only legal to
sell and/or possess CBD oil in North

Carolina if the product satisfies the
following three criteria:
(a) it is made of ‘industrial hemp’
containing not more than 0.3 percent
THC on a dry weight basis;
(b) it is produced pursuant
to a state pilot program. See 7
U.S.C. 5940; N.C. General Statute
90-87(16) and 106-568.51; and
(c) it is produced by a grower licensed by the (North Carolina Industrial Hemp) Commission, N.C. Gen.
Stat. 106-568.51(7), meaning the
hemp in the product must have been
grown under the North Carolina pilot
program.
“Without going into the details of
this particular seizure (as some of that
info is criminal investigative material and not a public record under
N.C. Gen. Stat. 132-1.4), the oil in
this case did not meet all three of
the criteria above,” Secor said, while
clarifying that item (c) above does not
apply to CBD oil, but the seizure of
the CBD oil the reader was referring
to was lawful because the oil did not
satisfy the other criteria.
“Hence the Sheriff’s Office acted
lawfully and appropriately when
seizing the hemp oil product on
March 27,” Secor confirmed.

Curious about
something?
Submit your questions
about topics relevant
to the northwest area

online: nwobserver.com
e-mail: questions@
nwobserver.com

NEWS in brief

...continued from p. 3
Stokesdale is the only incorporated
municipality in northwest Guilford
County operating its own water system.
Engineering firm McGill Associates,
hired to represent Stokesdale’s inter-

ests during a feasibility study regarding
a proposed regional water authority,
will make the presentation. The study’s
results will be posted on the town’s
website at www.stokesdale.org.
Stokesdale’s fee currently is $750;
the state requires municipalities to
hold a public hearing to document the
calculation of the fee.

a No Solicitation policy. He also
did not act surprised, as if he had
been told multiple times before
that there was such a policy. He
actually proceeded to ask me if I
was going to make a donation.”
After previous attempts
to discourage Miracle House
of Hope representatives from
soliciting at the town’s main
intersection in the fall of 2015,
the Town of Oak Ridge adopted
an ordinance in March 2016 that
prohibits solicitation in the rights
of way within the town limits.

Photo courtesy of NWO reader

A Northwest Observer reader captured this
photo of a solicitor at the intersection of N.C. 68
and N.C. 150 in Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning.

...News Briefs continued on p. 33

A new smile in just one visit!
Before
Photo by Steve Mann/NWO

A walker at Stokesdale Town Park alerted the town staff Tuesday morning that
someone had spray-painted an area of the bathroom/concessions building, according
to Alisa Houk, the interim town clerk. Volunteers with Stokesdale Parks and Recreation apparently had left two striping carts used to line the soccer fields and cans of
red and blue spray paint behind the building. Someone sprayed the sidewalk under
the carts, the corner of the building, and sprayed lines across the front of three of the
men’s bathroom doors and on the sidewalk in front of the bathrooms. The incident
was reported to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, Houk said. Mayor John Flynt said
someone has been contacted to remove the paint with a power washer.

Solicitors make brief (re)
appearance at intersection
OAK RIDGE – An Oak Ridge resident
who was approached by a solicitor at
the intersection of N.C. 68 and 150 on
Tuesday morning said the man was one
of about five men who was approaching drivers stopped at the intersection’s
traffic signal. The solicitors handed
out flyers for Charlotte-based Miracle
House of Hope, which claims it serves
those “enslaved by illicit drugs or alcohol,” and asked for donations.

After

Same-Day Crowns

“I called the non-emergency number (for the Sheriff’s Office) at 11:55
a.m. and within five minutes a deputy (I
presume) had remedied the issue,” the
resident told the Northwest Observer.
The real problem is that the guy who
walked up to my car (they were walking
up to all cars at stop lights) proceeded to
reach across me to grab his flyer back,
insisting multiple times that I give it
back... after I informed him the town has

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Learn more about us at

drdevaney.com

(336) 643-5515

1580 Hwy 68 N, Oak Ridge
MAY 17 - 23, 2018

5

Centenarian honored with birthday celebration
Philip Dixon, a World
War II veteran, still
drives himself to church
every Sunday
by CHRIS BURRITT
Philip Dixon, who celebrated his
100th birthday at Liberty Wesleyan
Church on May 6, said he has followed
the advice of an old-timer who years
earlier shared the secret of living a
long life.
“All you got to do is keep breathing,’’ Dixon told the congregation
nearly filling the sanctuary of the
church on U.S. 158 in Summerfield.
Not only did the church honor the first
centenarian in its 107-year history with
a memory book and a crystal commemorative plaque, it also provided
a stage for Dixon to share highlights
of his life and one-liners that drew
laughs.
“I’m not much of a singer,” said
Dixon, although the morning services
featured three hymns chosen by him
– “To God Be the Glory,” “Jesus Is the
Sweetest Name I Know” and “Never
Grow Old.” The Rev. Danny Janes,
the church’s pastor, preached on the
topic of “Growing Up – or Growing
Old?” and noted the good fortune that
Dixon’s birthday fell on a Sunday.
Seated next to the pulpit, Dixon

took the microphone from Janes and
highlighted milestones in his life. He
wore a dark blue suit with white shirt
and red tie, and a ball cap denoting
that he’s a veteran of World War II.
Born in Summerfield on May 6, 1918,
Dixon attended public schools. After
completing high school, he helped his
family grow tobacco and then joined
the U.S. Army Air Corps. He and Irene,
his wife of 63 years, raised four children
including sons Phil, John and Bill, all of
whom attended the church service. The
couple’s daughter, Diane Dixon John-

son, died in 1995. Irene passed away
five years later.
The congregation watched a video
featuring photographs provided by
Dixon’s family; some showed him fishing at the beach and swimming with
his children.
“I’m slow, but I’m old,” Dixon
told the congregation. He still drives
himself to church on Sundays from
his Summerfield home, where he lives
alone.
Janes told Dixon the congregation
had done its best to plan his 100th-

Samuel K. Anders, CPA, MSA, PC

birthday celebration without him knowing it. After the morning service, Dixon,
a member of the church for 31 years,
cut his birthday cake at a luncheon in
the church’s Family Life Center.
Summerfield Mayor Gail Dunham
read a proclamation from the town
honoring Dixon. He also received letters of congratulation from U.S. Rep.
Mark Walker (R-N.C. 6th District),
Rev. Jerry Lumston, district superintendent for N.C. West District of the Wesleyan Church, and Dr. Wayne Schmidt,
the church’s general superintendent.

Council approves rezoning request for
95-acre parcel despite citizens’ concerns
by STEVE MANN
STOKESDALE – The Stokesdale
Town Council approved a request
to rezone about 95 acres from
AG (agriculture) to CZ-RS-30 (residential single-family, minimum
30,000 square feet, with conditions)
after holding a public hearing at
the monthly council meeting on
May 10.
The property, owned by Meredith College, is on the south side
of Belews Creek Road across from
Mount Carmel Road and the north
side of Colgate Road.
The adjacent parcels are mostly
undeveloped or rural residential use
on large-acre lots. Most subdivi-

sions along Belews Creek Road but
not adjacent to the 95-acre parcel
are RS-40 (residential single-family,
minimum 40,000 square feet).
Oliver Bass, the town’s planner, said
the rezoning request was consistent
with the Stokesdale Land Use Plan.
The council’s 4-0 vote, with
council member Frank Bruno absent, came after almost 83 minutes
of discussion, with nine citizens
speaking against the request and
only one person – Craig Fleming of
Fleming Engineering Inc., representing Meredith College – in support.
The original condition of the request presented to the town’s Planning Board on May 3 limited the
overall density to one unit for each

43,506 square feet, or one acre.
The remaining dimensional requirements of the RS-30 zoning would
apply to the subdivision, however.
Fleming said RS-30 and RS-40
were considered during a feasibility study involving such factors as
topography and suitable soil for
septic. He said lots under RS-40
zoning require a minimum width of
150 feet, while RS-30 lots can be as
small as 100 feet wide. Fleming said
Johnson & Lee, the developer, didn’t
anticipate many 100-foot lots, but
the RS-30 zoning would provide
flexibility since each lot would have
a well and septic field.
Fleming said the applicant voluntarily submitted two other conditions: Limiting the maximum number of dwellings to 70 units, which
would mean an average density of
1.3 or 1.4 units per acre, and no
street connection between Belews
Creek and Colgate roads.
Citing the wells and smaller lot
sizes, water was the main concern
of speakers. The town requires the
developer of any major subdivision
within 1,000 linear feet of Stokesdale’s water system to tie into and
extend the waterlines at the developer’s expense. But the proposed
subdivision is about 8,000 linear
feet from the waterlines at Oak
Level Road and N.C. 65. Fleming
said it wouldn’t be economically
feasible for the developer to bear
the expense of extending the waterlines, saying it could raise the cost
of homes as much as $20,000 and
possibly kill the project.
Laura Gibson of MG Trail was
among those asking whether the
town and developer could work out

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

a compromise. Growth is coming all
over Stokesdale, she said, and the
town could benefit from extending
the water system. Council members
Tim Jones and Bill Jones said the
town can’t afford to run waterlines
to subdivisions.
Several others, including former
council member Mickie Holbrook,
suggested the council seriously consider requiring RS-40 with larger lot
sizes because of the wells and septic
fields.
Following the public hearing
but before the council’s vote, Tim
Jones said he wondered whether the
decision should be delayed to see
if something could be worked out
about the southern part of the parcel connecting to waterlines along
U.S. 158 through an easement connecting to Colgate Road.
Other concerns that were expressed included what were called
“inconsistencies” with the Land Use
Plan that Bass cited; soil suitability; the impact development may
have on fire and law enforcements
services in Stokesdale; the development of a future growth plan for the
town; multiple entrances into the
subdivision along a scenic corridor;
and the impact development could
have on the school system.
At one point, Laura Hirko of
Fieldstream Drive asked Town
Attorney John Bain if an elected
official who stands to gain from a
vote is obligated to recuse himself.
Bain said only if the official has a
direct financial interest in the matter. Hirko then asked Mayor John
Flynt, who is involved in real estate
and development, if he planned to
recuse himself. Flynt said no.

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downtown

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10

MAY 17 - 23, 2018

ing in Casablanca,
Morocco, the last
few years of his
life. While there,
Richard and Judy
had the opportunity to travel all
over Europe and
Africa, appreciating new cultures, and
learning about themselves in the process. Richard greatly valued participating
in the African Entrepreneurship Award
program, encouraging and mentoring
young entrepreneurs from Africa and
around the globe. He truly believed that
African entrepreneurs are the economic
future of the continent.
A celebration of Richard’s life will
be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 2,
at Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church,
2614 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge.
The Revs. Marti Reed Hazelrigg and
John Hartman will preside. Donations
in memory of Richard can be made to
Autumn House, 3902 Derbyshire Drive,
Greensboro, NC 27410. Autumn House
is a small residential facility that serves
adults with developmental disabilities.

Richard Palmer Cram went to be with
the Lord on April 20 at the age of 71. He
will forever be remembered by his wife
and best friend Judy, three daughters,
Suzann (Art), Leann (Boz) and Amanda
(Brent), brother Peter (Donna), sister Jill
(Terry), and two step-children, Adam and
Sam. Twelve grandchildren and one greatgrandchild, and many other relatives and
beloved friends will miss Richard’s smile
and encouragement. He is predeceased
by his parents, Edward and Ruth Anne
(Palmer), and his sister, Bonney.
Richard was raised in Middlebury,
Vermont, served in the Air Force and
graduated from Union College with a
B.S. in mathematics. He lived in various
states, finally settling in Greensboro.
Richard worked as an IT professional
and DBA at such companies as General
Electric, Black and Decker, VF Corp and
LabCorp. After retirement, he returned
to school and became a commissioned
lay pastor. Richard then had the privilege
of serving as pastor to the congregation
of Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church in
North Carolina before heading overseas.
Richard’s passions were people and
travel, and he very much enjoyed resid-

GWS300962a

Rev. Carol
Foltz, pastor of
Moravia Moravian
Church of Oak
Ridge, was
elected bishop
of the worldwide
Moravian Church
by the 2018
Southern Province
Rev. Carol Foltz
Synod last month.
Foltz is the first woman elected bishop by

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

the Southern Province.
“I am a sinner, saved by grace,”
said Foltz as she accepted her election.
“I believe that the walk with Christ is a
walk of development, and I have had
the great privilege of saying to you that
God has been good to me. I read in the
Daily Texts last week, ‘Let the Lord do
to me as seems good to Him.’ Thinking
about this Synod, I said to myself, ‘God,

...continued on p. 34

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FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 18-19

zz
Founders’ Day | The Town of Summerfield invites

you to its 22nd annual Founders’ Day celebration
May 18-19. Enjoy music, carnival rides and food trucks
on Friday evening and a parade (at 10 a.m.) down
Summerfield Road followed by rides, performances,
vendor booths, food trucks and more on Saturday.
More info: see front cover article and ad on p. 13.

On the left side, click

SATURDAY, MAY 19

community calendar

zz
MST Workday | Oak Ridge Mountains-to-Sea Trail

...where over 12,800 of your
neighbors are connected

Committee will have a trail workday at the Cascades
Preserve in Oak Ridge, 7359 Goodwill Church Road,
on May 19, 9 a.m. to noon. Help maintain the beautiful trails at this 130-acre preserve that offers natural
landscapes, a wildlife habitat and a hiking system.
Tools will be provided; volunteer whatever amount of
time you can spare. Meet at the Cascades’ parking lot.
More info: Randy Schmitz at rschmitz1@triad.rr.com.

TUESDAY, MAY 22

zz
Blood Drive | New Garden Friends Meeting,

801 New Garden Road in Greensboro, will host a blood
drive through Community Blood Center of the Carolinas
on May 22, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Call (888) 59-BLOOD or
visit www.cbcc.us for an appointment.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23

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Garlic Scape Gathering | Summerfield Farms,

View the complete, detailed
Community Calendar at
nwobserver.com, and check the
Northwest Observer each week for
a selection of upcoming events

3203 Pleasant Ridge Road in Summerfield, invites
volunteers to work in its organic vegetable farm on
May 23, 8 to 10:30 a.m. More info: (336) 643-2006
or jennie@summerfieldfarms.com.

REGISTER NOW FOR JUNE 1 EVENT

zz
Run the Ridge Glow | Register now for Merchants

of Oak Ridge’s Run the Ridge Glow, a 1.5-mile run/
walk through Oak Ridge Town Park on Friday evening,
June 1. See ad on p. 7 for registration details.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MAY 17 - 23, 2018

11

FOUNDERS’ DAY
...continued from p. 1

on my shoulders,” Walker said of being
the parade organizer. “It’s neat and
scary and overwhelming… I’ve always
had the fear, ‘What if no one shows
up?’ My granddad said that was normal and he used to get it. It’s worked
out for the last two years.”

always done it and it’s a neat way to
give back.”

As for the weather, Walker said if it
doesn’t cooperate, there is no Plan B.

Walker sees the annual parade as an
opportunity for everyone to come together, “regardless of what is taking place
on the political front or out in the world”
and make something bigger happen.

“But we’ve had the parade in light
drizzles before and it generally clears off
about 9:30 a.m.” he said optimistically.

A native of Summerfield, Walker
said some of his earliest memories are
of Founders’ Day.

He admits it takes a lot of work to
pull all the parade details together, and
says he couldn’t do it without the help of
about 50 volunteers, most of whom are
friends and family. He offered a special
note of appreciation for his cousin, Parker Jackson, and his mom, Lori Walker.

“I remember riding in one of the
first parades in a train and wearing a
Founders’ Day T-shirt,” he said. “We’ve

“Parker is overworked and underappreciated … It is really her and my mom
who help keep it organized,” he said.

Keep an eye out for one of the
longest-running parade entrants, Harry
Osborne, who drives an old pickup truck
with a mechanical eagle on the back.
“I always enjoy calling him and asking him to be in the parade,” Walker
said. “He tells me every year, if he can
get the truck to run he’ll be there.”
Kids will want to bring bags to
collect all the candy that parade
participants will be throwing out – and
especially be ready for Vulcan Materials, which brings out a full crew to
throw buckets… and buckets… and
buckets of candy from its float.
“We’re lucky to have commercial
neighbors who are willing to do things
like that,” Walker said, adding, “I like
to put myself behind them, because
they make me look good.”
Leading off the parade will be Summerfield Cub Scout Pack 103, which
will perform as color guard. Following
just behind will be Troy Stantliff, grand
marshal. Stantliff has been a dedicated
volunteer with Summerfield Fire District
for the last 54 years and has been recognized at both the regional and state
levels for his service. Earlier this year
Stantliff was the recipient of the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
“In my opinion, you know your town
recognizes your sacrifice and commitment when you are selected as a
grand marshal,” Walker said. “Troy has
given a tremendous amount of time.”
Following the parade, head to the
area beside Summerfield Fire District’s
Station 9, where a Founders’ Day opening ceremony will be held on the event
stage at 11:15 a.m. A full entertainment
lineup will follow, including performances by the Northwest High School
Honors Vocal Ensemble and Jazz Band,
Greensboro Academy students and
Greensboro Performing Arts students.

12

MAY 17 - 23, 2018

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Cheryl Gore, the town’s event planner, confirms there will be no shortage of free kids’ activities, including a
petting zoo, rock climbing wall, face
painting, balloon twisting, inflatables,
lawn games, magician, and Wonderland Studio area.
Unlimited carnival rides are $10 for
one day, or $15 for two days.
When you’ve worked up an appetite,
head to the long row of food trucks,
where you’ll find newcomers Ghassan’s,
Wired Café Coffee Bus and PorterHouse
Burger Company, as well as longtime
favorites Taqueria El Azteca, Dominos, Kona Ice, Chick-fil-a, Ice Queen,
The Dawg Man and G&T Concessions.
Gore said the 40 vendor spaces
filled up quickly this year with craft
vendors selling wood crafts, soaps,
beaded jewelry and more, and several
Summerfield-based companies showcasing their businesses.
For more Founders’ Day details,
see ad on p. 13.
As of our press deadline for this issue,
weather forecasts were calling for rain
and thunderstorms over the weekend.
Please check the Northwest Observer’s
Facebook page or Summerfield’s website
at summerfieldgov.com for Founders’
Day updates.
•••••

parking/shuttle service
Event parking will be available at Summerfield Square Shopping Center on
U.S. 220, at Summerfield Elementary
School, and along some roads off Summerfield Road. Shuttle services will be
offered throughout the day on Saturday,
beginning at 8:30 a.m., and going in
continuous loops from Summerfield
Square Shopping Center to Rhondan
Road (off Summerfield Road).

Summerfield Merchants Association
will be driving golf carts to help people
through the road closures and handicapped parking is available directly
across from Summerfield Fire Department’s Station 9 on Summerfield Road.

has recently responded to the following incidents
in northwest Guilford County ...
The District 1 office, one of three district offices in Guilford County, encompasses Oak Ridge, Summerfield, Stokesdale, Colfax and
northwest and northern Greensboro. It is bounded by Rockingham
County on the north, runs east along U.S. 29 South, west along Forsyth County and south along the Greensboro city limits.
ASSAULT
May 10 | A resident of Wooden Rail
Lane in Summerfield reported a
known person struck him in the face
with a closed hand.

ed to break into his home through a
window screen, causing about $50 in
damages.
May 13 | A resident in the 8200
block of Walter Combs Way in Stokesdale reported that sometime between
5 p.m. on May 12 and 6:15 p.m. on
May 13 an unknown suspect(s) entered her residence by forcing open a
front window. Once inside, numerous

May 10 | A 52-year-old man was
arrested in the 7200 block of Ellison
Road in Stokesdale around 2:48 p.m.
for Simple Assault.

May 11 | A resident of Bunker Hill
Road in Colfax reported a known
person communicated threats to her
and her mother via text messages and
phone calls over a period of several
hours, beginning around 3 a.m.

FRAUD
May 12 | A resident of Pintail Court in
Oak Ridge reported she sent money
to an unknown suspect claiming to
work for the Guilford County Sheriff`s
Office. The fraudulent charges totaled $179.12.
May 13 | StokeRidge Tavern on
N.C. 68 in Stokesdale reported a customer left the restaurant without paying a bill in the amount of $116.69.
May 10 | A business owner in the
1000 block of N.C. 150 in Summerfield reported being a victim of
Fraud – Obtaining Money/Property By
False Pretense.

THEFT
May 11 | A resident of Stonecroft
Drive in Oak Ridge reported two
unknown suspects took mail from her
mailbox.

ARRESTS
May 10 | A known suspect and resident of the 1700 block of Scalesville
Road in Summerfield was cited and
released for consuming an alcoholic
beverage in the passenger area of a
motor vehicle; the incident occurred
at the intersection of Ellisboro Road
and Vaughn Street in Stokesdale at
about 11:45 p.m. In the same incident, another known suspect and
resident of the 400 block of Mourning
Dove Terrace in Greensboro was cited
and released for possession of drug
paraphernalia.
May 10 | A 42-year old woman
was arrested in the 7300 block of
Strawberry Road in Summerfield for

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

May 11 | A 17-year-old Northwest
High School male student was cited
for Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Alcohol on
Educational Property.
May 11 | A 54-year-old man was
arrested for writing a worthless check
to a business in the 4600 block of
U.S. 220 in Summerfield.
May 12 | A manager of Food Lion on
U.S. 220 in Summerfield reported a
known suspect stole New York strip
steaks, chuck roasts, T-bone steaks,
filet mignon steaks and ribeye steaks
valued at about $244.19. The incident
occurred around 10 a.m. The items
were recovered and the suspect was
arrested for Shoplifting/Concealment
of Merchandise and given a written
promise to appear in court on June 18.
May 13 | An under-21-year-old resident of the 7100 block of Ellison Road
in Stokesdale was cited for provisional
DWI and a rear lamp violation.
May 13 | A 32-year-old man was
arrested in the 8200 block of Tyner
Road in Colfax for Contributing to the
Delinquency of a Minor.

A group of concerned citizens has suggested the council purchase this vacant lot on U.S. 158 in downtown Stokesdale with a $33,333 grant
from the state. The group is suggesting the lot â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which owners have not confirmed is for sale â&#x20AC;&#x201C; could be used for parking.

to rezone 3.164 acres at 7936 Quiet
Place, about 150 feet off the east
side of N.C. 68 North. The property is
currently zoned LB (Limited Business);
the requested zoning is CU-GB (Conditional Use–General Business), with
all permitted uses in a general business district excluded except for mini

storage. The company hopes to build
three separate enclosed mini-storage
facilities on the property, with the building closest to N.C. 68 (which would run
parallel to the Village Offices) being
18,000 square feet and the two other
buildings behind it being 27,500 square
feet each.
“This property is in the town
commercial core and surrounded by
commercial buildings,” Cooke told
the Northwest Observer. “According
to commercial studies we have done,

there is definitely a need for storage
space in this area.” Cooke said the
storage units would not generate a lot
of traffic, would not require much water
and will be gated, climate-controlled
and monitored by security cameras.
An open house was to be held
May 16 for anyone wishing to talk with
Cooke, view plans or express concerns.
Oak Ridge’s Planning & Zoning
Board will hold a public hearing for the
rezoning May 24, 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge
Town Hall.

INTRODUCING THE

Highway Realty Rockstars

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achieve your real estate needs
Photo by Chris Burritt/NWO

(336) 885-0546 • www.winwintriad.com
16

MAY 17 - 23, 2018

Ben Walraven, marketing manager for Walraven Signature Homes (right), talked to
John and Melissa Haynes of Greensboro when the Haynes toured one of the custom
homebuilding company’s six homes on this spring’s Parade of Homes tour, held April
28-29 and May 5-6. More than 50 newly constructed homes were on Greensboro
Builders Association’s Parade tour in Guilford and Forsyth counties, giving Parade
attendees an opportunity to meet one-on-one with the homebuilders and designers.
Mark your calendar now for the GBA’s Tour of Remodeled Homes, Aug. 4-5, and the
fall Parade of Homes, Oct. 13-14 and 20-21.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

Rezoning requested for
single-family homes
OAK RIDGE – Keith Charles, of Greenwood & Charles, Inc., has applied to
rezone 27.06 acres located on the south
side of Forsyth Road, about 3,437 feet
south of the intersection with Oak Ridge

Road, from AG (Agriculture) to RS-40.
Oak Ridge’s Planning & Zoning
Board will hold a public hearing for the
rezoning May 24, 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge
Town Hall.

LeBauer HealthCare at Oak Ridge held a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 11 to
celebrate the addition of 1,800 square feet to the medical office it has occupied at
68 Place in Oak Ridge since November 2011.

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Photos by Patti Stokes/NWO

Family medicine physicians Philip McGowen (left) and Renee Kuneff (center) of
LeBauer HealthCare at Oak Ridge will be joined by Dr. Jenna Mendelson (far right)
later this month. Mendelson is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in developmental disabilities; she is especially focused on early diagnosis and intervention for children (18 months on), adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well
as services for individuals with ASD and their families across the lifespan. Mendelson
is also experienced in the provision of individual and couple’s therapy and mindfulness
strategies for a range of challenges.

‘Family first’ is at foundation
of Disney Construction
Company’s longevity, success
by NORA MURRAY
Disney Construction Company, DBA
Disney Custom Homes, began over
30 years ago with husband-and-wife team
Francis and Patti Disney. In 2011 one of
the couple’s sons, Mark, joined the family
business and has committed to carrying it
on into the future.
The journey started when a friend
convinced Francis to start building barns
and fences. With Patti’s support, he later
decided to start Disney Construction Company and in 1984 he became a licensed
general contractor and residential builder.
“When we started out, we didn’t want
to be the biggest, but the best we could
be,” Patti said. “For us, that means being
a hands-on builder and providing custom
homes known for quality, experience and
attention to detail. And with everything
we do, we want to do it with integrity.”
As both a developer and a builder,
Francis has been involved in some of the
area’s most distinguished communities,

including: Foxbury, Riverside, Ridgewood,
Pepper Ridge and Meadow Ridge. The
company is currently building in NorthRidge in Stokesdale, Knight’s Landing
in Oak Ridge, Birkhaven in Summerfield
and The Cottages at Contentment Island
– Smith Mountain Lake.
Oak Ridge has always been home to
Francis and Patti, and the town is where
they built their first home. The couple has
seven children and seven grandchildren.

“It is an honor to see our sons follow
in their father’s footsteps,” Patti said of
Mark and his brother Brian, who is also
in the homebuilding business.
The Disneys’ sons have learned from
one of the best, Patti noted, as Francis’
success can be seen not only in the
number of homes he has built but in the
satisfaction of those who live in them.
“The quality of their work reflects
their passion in homebuilding,” homeowner Kathy Houlden wrote about Disney

Brian Disney Homes has established a
reputation of excellence in the craftsmanship
of custom residential homes since 2006.

Mike
(336) 362-4462
Casey
(336) 706-1887

Find out more at briandisneyhomes.com.
briandisneyhomes@gmail.com

It’s more than just a h
Not your average
home builder

Owners Ray & Lisa Bullins are here to
help you from conception to completion

DISNEY CUSTOM HOMES

...continued from previous page
Custom Homes. “All the cabinet work they
did was custom-built. My favorite is a laundry
chute, hidden in the cabinetry in the laundry
room. They are great at making your ideas
come to life.”
A job well done is a source of pride for
the Disney Custom Homes’ team.

“We enjoy the satisfaction of seeing
the homes come together and seeing the
finished product,” Patti said. “It is rewarding
to work with individual buyers in designing and building a custom home using the
assistance of the many professionals and
tradespeople we have worked with over the
30-plus years we have been in business.”
Patti advises anyone considering building a custom home to look for a builder
who has experience and will give them
personal attention.

“Realize the home is made up of many
decisions and selections,” she said. “So as you
begin, come in with an idea of what you want,
but also be open to builder suggestions.”
The Disney family’s main goal is to
make the customer’s experience of buying a
custom home as enjoyable as it is for them to
build it. They also hope their commitment to
family and to all those involved in the homebuilding process shows through in their work.

Longtime Oak Ridge residents Francis and Patti
building business. The couple is shown in this ph
“The relationships we have with the
tradespeople are reflected in the quality of
our homes,” Patti said, noting Disney Custom
Homes has worked with the same loyal,
quality- and service-oriented professionals for
many years. “Using the same professionals
builds a rapport and continuity, and makes
for an enjoyable experience.”
“We hope those who choose us to build
their home, whether they are a young couple

i Disney (standing, center) say putting family first in all they do is at the core of their homehoto with some of their seven children and spouses, and seven grandchildren.
just beginning, an established family or empty
nesters, will find their home provides a retreat
and a secure place for their family,” Patti said.
Disney Custom Homes actively participates
in Greensboro Builders
Assocation, National
Assocation of Home
Builders, Builders for
Habitat, Remodelers
Council and Houzz.
(336) 643-4219

Looking to build?
Contact us today
to schedule a
consultation

Mark Disney has been named a 2018
recipient of Triad Business Journal’s
“40 Under 40” award for leadership
and community service.

(336) 575-4797

BrianThompsonHomes.com

• DisneyCustomHomes.com

Citizens aim to keep heart of Stokesdale beating

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to see Stokesdale as
a ghost town,â&#x20AC;? said Jaycee Spruill, one
of the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core members.
In trying to determine how to
achieve that, the group is focusing on
Stokesdaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s town core, which most consider to be the area from the stoplight
at the intersection of U.S.Â 158 and N.C.
68 to the stoplight at the intersection of
U.S. 158 and Belews Creek Road.
The group formed about 11 months
ago to push a candidate for the town
council last November, said Vicki WhiteLawrence, a former council member who
did not run for re-election in 2017. The
candidate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Spruill â&#x20AC;&#x201C; finished second to
Thearon Hooks in what was for both a
third bid for a council seat.
The group has met since the election to discuss its vision for Stokesdale
and develop a plan to achieve it.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We decided the main thing the
town needs is unification for the downtown area,â&#x20AC;? said Joe Thacker, a former

(336) 574-2755
Greensboro:
312 Dougherty Street
prostoneusa.com

22

If we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t act now, it will
â&#x20AC;&#x153;
be too late,â&#x20AC;? White-Lawrence
said.

The group envisions a bustling,
walkable downtown with small shops;
businesses or parking lots on what are
now vacant lots; and events â&#x20AC;&#x201C; farmers
markets, arts and crafts shows, even a
Fourth of July parade â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that would attract more foot traffic downtown.
The groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roadmap may lie in a
portion of the Future Land Use Planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
vision statement: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The historic nature
of the town, especially its downtown,
should be preserved and maintained
through the addition of businesses and
services that cater to the citizens and are
in harmony with existing development.â&#x20AC;?
â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of our fundamental questions
is, what kind of organization do we
need to be to effect the kind of change
we want to see?â&#x20AC;? said Kathy Bunthoff,
a mother of four. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Part of it is helping

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It does, however, have an objective.

STOKESDALE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; This group of concerned citizens hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t settled on a name,
a slogan or even a mission statement.

council member who also served on the
townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Planning Board and Ordinance
Review Committee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We see it declining month to month, and we all are
concerned.â&#x20AC;?

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people imagine what this town can beâ&#x20AC;Ś
If we can help them see what might
be possible, then theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hey, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m
behind that.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?
Thacker said he believes the group
needs to focus on two areas right now.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The first is to attract some new
members,â&#x20AC;? he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and the second
one is to have some sort of program in
place that when somebody asks what
we do, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something to tell them.

Right now, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just a
â&#x20AC;&#x153;
group of people meeting every
few weeks, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just coming up with ideas and things we
want to do,â&#x20AC;? Thacker said.

Granite

The group has been researching the
processes of becoming a nonprofit and
fundraising; looking at what adjacent
municipalities have done; examining
communities comparable to Stokesdale
that made the kinds of changes the
group envisions; canvassing downtown

The Northwest Observer â&#x20AC;˘ Totally local since 1996

business owners and residents for their
ideas and concerns; and figuring out how
to reach citizens and move them to care.
With a traditional downtown but
limited services and no property tax,
Stokesdale has largely left downtown
improvements to business owners and
private citizens.
Ted Southern, Mark Richardson and
Garfield Apple â&#x20AC;&#x201C; partners in SouthRich
Partnership â&#x20AC;&#x201C; began buying downtown
buildings about 30 years ago and investing in them by adding things like new
sidewalks, street lights and updated
facades.
And Mauro Romano updated the
building he purchased a few years ago
at Ivan and Main streets that includes
the post office, added street lights behind it and repaved the parking lot.
Over the years, efforts to promote
local businesses have met with mixed
success.
Town Council member Frank Bruno
helped start the Stokesdale Business

Association in 2009 to drive more business to town.
About 110 businesses – many homebased, he said – joined. The association was marketed through a business
directory and such events as what Bruno
called “a combination car show/bike
show/street fair.”
In 2008, former residents Bill and
Pam Lemmons started the nonprofit
ROADS – Revitalize Our Ancestors
Dreams in Stokesdale – with the goal of
enhancing the sense of community spirit
and preserving Stokesdale’s historic
nature. It held fundraising events and
sponsored a monthly market.
The two groups helped develop
Linear Park.
“We were getting people energized
in downtown,” Bruno said.
But only a handful of people did
most of the work, and attracting new
members proved difficult. The core
group decided to form the Four Corners
Chamber of Commerce to include businesses from a broader area, Bruno said.
Membership with the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce could give them more pull,
they reasoned.

But what happened was,
“
some of the businesses in
Stokesdale didn’t want us to
recruit businesses outside
Stokesdale to be in their business association,” Bruno said.
“Then they dropped out because they didn’t understand
what we were trying to do to
build it. If you kept it small,
they liked that, but you weren’t
growing anybody’s business.
We wanted to go big and they
felt they were going to get lost.”
Bruno said he believes the town let
some opportunities for historic preserva-

tion slip away, such as the N.C. Small
Town Main Street program, administered through the N.C. Main Street &
Rural Planning Center.
The program offered various services, including façade improvement,
Bruno said. The town was required to
reimburse the state monthly for travel
expenses and meals. The town council
passed a resolution in 2012 supporting
Stokesdale’s application.
Bruno said he made presentations
in 2008 as a private citizen and in 2012
as a council member, even trying – to
no avail – to get the state to accept
the idea of expanding the town core to
Angel-Pardue Road where the current
Town Hall stands. In the end, the town
didn’t receive a grant.
“The argument was, ‘If the town
council doesn’t support their downtown
(as evidenced by moving the town hall
out of downtown), why are we going to
support you?’” Bruno said.
N.C. Main Street representatives had
suggested someone look at the town’s
historic buildings to see whether they
could qualify as a historic destination.
In April 2013, Ann Swallow of the North
Carolina Historic Preservation Office
walked the downtown with Bruno, council member Bill Jones, former Mayor
Randy Braswell, members of ROADS
and several residents to see whether
she thought Stokesdale would qualify to
be placed on the National Register of
Historic Places.
“She would tell us who owned what
building, who built it, who owned it over
time to show us there are a lot of historical things downtown that we could use
in that program, to upfit buildings and
use them as historical buildings,” Bruno
said.
Swallow encouraged the town to
apply. According to the May 21, 2013
council meeting minutes, the deadline
was missed.

...continued on p. 24

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About the same time, students in the
Masters of City and Regional Planning
program at UNC developed a revitalization plan for Stokesdale’s downtown –
for free.
“They went around town and took
pictures of houses and buildings and
… came up with why they thought this
plan would work,” Bruno said. He said
the plan, which is in Town Hall, included
the Mountains-to-Sea Trail – which is
another disappointing issue.
One of the goals of ROADS was to
bring a segment of the trail through the
downtown. But in 2016, Braswell asked
the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation to remove Stokesdale from the
MST map.
“I know the biggest disappointment
for this town – and they don’t know this
yet, but they’re going to find out in the
next year or two – is when they (the
council) decided to tell them to move
the trail,” Bruno said. “That would have
been a big factor to say, ‘Hey, look,
we’ve got something in the town.’”
Bunthoff said she uses the decision
as motivation.
“Every time I think about the council
voting down the MST, that’s why I’m

Photo by Steve Mann/NWO

The vacant building that once housed a dentist’s office and the empty lot next to it are two properties a group of concerned citizens envision could be used for downtown parking or for new businesses.

here,” she said.
Bruno said he talked to some in
the group four or five months ago and
encouraged them to get involved.
“One of the things I kept telling them
was the first part of getting involved in
the town… is showing up for the meeting,” he said.

Bunthoff spoke during the citizens’
comment period at the April 12 and
May 10 monthly council meetings, suggesting project ideas for the $33,333
downtown revitalization grant Stokesdale received from the
N.C. Department of Commerce.
“After (speaking), I was thinking,
‘We have a very different perspective
on what it means to be a steward of the
town, what the town needs,” she said. “I
can’t even sufficiently anticipate the obstacles of trying to move toward historic
preservation in a town that doesn’t see
itself as historic and in need of preservation.”
White-Lawrence said the group
wants to work with the council, not
against it.
Mayor John Flynt said the council is
willing to meet with the group and listen
to their suggestions.
“But a lot of (downtown revitalization)
is out of the purview of the council. It’s up

24

MAY 17 - 23, 2018

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

to the individual (property) owners,” he
said. “There’s not a heck of a lot we can
do on that since it’s private.”
Besides the downtown, the group
has ideas for other areas of Stokesdale.
What it needs are people who want to
make a difference, Bunthoff said.
“It’s appealing to a sense of civic
responsibility,” she said. “All of this points
to this big thing that’s really missing,
which is a sense of responsibility or duty
to a place and to a community.”
•••••

want to know
more?

The group’s next meeting will be
June 13 at 7 p.m. For more info about
the group or location of the next
meeting, contact Kathy Bunthoff at
(336) 655-9781 or email K.Bunthoff@
gmail.com.

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Congrats to the Dragons!
After an undefeated regular season (15 wins and
two ties), the Oak Ridge Dragons, which play for
the U10 Kernersville Soccer Association at Oak
Ridge Town Park, went on to win the season
championship on May 12. Shown in photo, front
row, L-R: Cameron Rands, Will Bolton, Colt
Kocher, Talan Carr, Max Holder and Jonathan
Adams. Back row, L-R: Brian Disney (of Brian
Disney Homes, team sponsor), Quinton Kocher
(head coach), Nick Tighe, Josiah Stewart, Charles
Disney and Josh Adams (assistant coach). Not
shown, Joel Germeroth.

Dr. Beth Borden
(336) 644-2770

1009 Hwy 150W, Summerfield

26

MAY 17 - 23, 2018

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

NWMS Quiz Bowl team
competes on national stage
With its strong finish at the Piedmont Triad Middle School Tournament, the quiz bowl team from
Northwest Guilford Middle School in
Greensboro proved themselves worthy
to play the top middle schools in the
country. On May 11, the team represented their school in a 191-team national competition: National Academic
Quiz Tournaments’ Middle School
National Championship Tournament.
Quiz bowl is a competitive,
academic, interscholastic activity for
teams of four students. Quiz bowl
teams use buzzers to answer questions
about science, math, history, literature,
mythology, geography, social science,
current events, sports and popular cul-

ture. The matches feature a blend of
individual competition and team collaboration, since no individual player
is likely to be an expert in all subject
areas. Participation in quiz bowl both
reinforces lessons from the classroom
and encourages players to develop
new intellectual interests.
This is the fifth time Northwest
Guilford has competed in the Middle
School National Championship Tournament. In both 2017 and this year,
the team finished 3-5.
This year’s Quiz Bowl team members included: Smith Brown, Tristan
Burd, Joe Criscuolo, Garret Eichlin and
Gwen Schillie; the team was coached
by Meagan Lopez and Sara Vaughn.

Northwest Middle School’s Odyssey of the Mind team, comprised of eighth-graders, will
be among 830 teams from around the world to travel to Iowa State University in Ames,
Iowa, to compete in the 2018 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals May 23-26. A fundraiser
will be held Thursday, May 17, 6 to 8 p.m. in the middle school cafeteria. Dinner will be
provided by Harper’s Restaurant for $10/plate (tickets sold at the door). An auction
including gift cards to Natty Greene’s and Rio Grande, gift baskets, Grasshopper box
seats and more will also take place during the fundraiser and the team will perform their
World Finals’ qualifying performance. Shown in photo, front row, L-R: Meghan Virost,
James Slaydon, Caden Miller and Emily Helm. Back row, L-R: Brenna Murphy, Jakob Lee
Dedona and Connor Kubis. Not shown, Coach An Virost.

Barbour & Williams Law
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Book Drive supports classroom
libraries at storm-stricken schools
Guilford County Schools’ media
specialists know the importance of
classroom libraries, so the Guilford Association of School Librarians (GASL)
has organized an Adopt-A-Teacher
campaign to collect books for classroom teachers affected by the April 15
tornado. All teachers at Erwin Montessori, Hampton Elementary and Peeler
Open Elementary have been adopted
by either a GCS school library media
coordinator or an employee at Scholas-

tic Books. The goal is to provide at least
100 books per classroom for teachers to
use in instruction or for student access.
Scholastic is partnering with GASL
and GCS Library Media Services to
collect books during its warehouse sale
on May 9-19 for the Adopt-A-Teacher
campaign. Boxes have been placed at
the warehouse sale for participants to
add their donations. The books will be
organized by GASL and GCS staff to
distribute to teachers.

STUDENT PROFILES
Thanks to the coaches and teachers at Northern and Northwest High Schools for their
student recommendations and input, which make it possible to recognize these talented,
dedicated students for their accomplishments in academics, athletics and cultural arts.

NORTHERN GUILFORD
Sam Kaplan, baseball
by MARC PRUITT
The memories
of winning the
2017 NCHSAA
3-A state baseball championship are still
vivid for senior
Sam Kaplan.
“There
were goosebumps all over my body,”
Kaplan said. “After that last ball got
caught, I looked at a couple of my
friends in the dugout and we didn’t

think twice about it. We jumped over
the fence and ran out and started
hugging everyone. Then we got in the
dogpile. It was awesome.”
A reserve pitcher and first baseman last season, Kaplan had a frontrow seat to the title run. It was his first
season playing varsity baseball after
spending his freshman and sophomore
years on the junior varsity team.
“I learned a lot by watching those
guys last year and I’m very thankful
for that,” Kaplan said. “Even though
I didn’t get to play that much, I was
a part of something great. Not many
people get to say they were a state
champion. That’s something I can hold
onto for the rest of my life.”

Student profiles brought to you this week by:

Kaplan was one of six seniors in the
Nighthawks’ lineup this season. The
dream of repeating as state champions
didn’t come to fruition, but Kaplan said
all was not lost. Northern finished at
12-13 overall and 7-7 in the Mid-State
3A Conference.
“Most people might say we had a
rebuilding year after losing 12 seniors
from last season,” he said. “But I think
we definitely had a great year. We had
some young players step into their roles.
Our hitting was awesome, our pitching
was really good, and our defense was
too. We just ran into some really good
teams and some really good arms. We
won the Beach Diamond Invitational
at West Brunswick over spring break,
which may have been the high point
of our season. There were some really
good teams there.”
Kaplan recorded a 2.98 ERA in nine
appearances on the mound and was
tied for second with three wins. He was
also second on the team with 14 RBIs

and four doubles.
Kaplan, who is also involved with
Fellowship of Christian Athletes, has
signed to play at Mars Hill.
“Baseball is the greatest team sport
to ever be created,” Kaplan said. “You
can learn so much about yourself from
playing, both on and off the field,
because the game can be so humbling.
The lessons you learn stick with you for
the rest of your life.”

On a side note, we asked Sam
Kaplan these three questions …

Q: What’s the best book you’ve read?
A: “‘The Mindful Athlete’ by George
Mumford”
Q: What three people, living or dead,
would you invite to dinner?
A: “Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Inky
Johnson (motivational speaker) and
Will Ferrell”
Q: Who’s the best teacher you’ve had?
A: “Mr. Thomas Buck (U.S. History)”

If you don’t find her playing for
one of the various school teams she
competes on, you might find her
playing a game of Ultimate frisbee.
She has been active in the Ultimate

Q: What’s your favorite sports movie?
A: “‘Moneyball’”

Although her position has shifted
every season, she’s had no issue adjusting to it.

Who will be the voice
for these children?

“My freshman year I played left
field, sophomore year I was third base,
junior year I was the shortstop and this
year, I’m in center field,” she said. “I
think I’ve developed a lot more patience towards the game the last four
years and have a much better knowledge of the game.”

Over 250 children in Guilford County will go to court alone.

Baumeier said her strengths are her
speed and agility – she started the season as the leadoff hitter before moving
to the No. 4 hole.

Learn how to be an advocate for an abused or neglected
child by becoming a Guardian Ad Litem.

“I’m comfortable anywhere in the
lineup and adjust my at bat depending
on the situation,” she said.
Baumeier’s given name is Elizabeth.
“My little sister couldn’t pronounce
my first name and would call me
‘Bizbeth’,” Baumeier said. “It got
shortened down to ‘Bizzy’ from there
and it’s stuck since kindergarten. Now,
everyone calls me that.”
“Compassionate,
Comprehensive
Care”

Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
A: “Yes, I have the same hairstyle for
all my softball games.”

______________________
Date

During the winter, Baumeier pulled
double duty as a member of the swim
team and indoor track team. And in
the fall, she ran cross country and
played field hockey.

Baumeier these three questions …

_________________________________
Date

Baumeier is one of the stalwarts
on Northwest Guilford’s softball team,
which recently won its fourth straight
conference championship and, as
of Tuesday, was still vying for the
NCHSAA 4-A state championship.

On a side note, we asked Bizzy

_________________________________
Time

Bizzy Baumeier is living up
to the pronunciation of her
nickname
while making
the most of
her senior
year.

Besides being active in sports,
Baumeier is in National Honor Society.
She will attend N.C. State next fall.

Heading into Tuesday’s playoff
game against Mooresville, Baumeier
helped lead the Vikings to a record
of 18-4 (8-0 in Metro 4A) with a
.358 batting average. She is second
on the team in home runs (3), doubles (10), and RBIs (27).

_________________________________
Date

by MARC PRUITT

And given her proclivity for activity,
for good reason.

_________________________________
Time

Bizzy Baumeier, softball

Frisbee Club since her freshman year
and is serving as the club’s president
this year.

GAP program fills a hole for ‘hands-on’ experience
Apprenticeship program
can start students on
solid career path

It sounds almost too good to be
true, and there seems to be no drawback, even in the fine print.
A part-time job that offers an hourly
rate higher than the federal minimum
wage, free community college tuition
– and getting paid while sitting in a
college classroom.
“They pay for me to attend class,”
said Northern Guilford High School senior Andrew Hairston. “Whether I’m at
work or at school, I still get paid, regardless. I can’t complain about that.”
After successfully completing the
program, each student has the inside
track to a good-paying career.
Students like Hairston have made
the decision to apply for Guilford Apprenticeship Partners, a program that
provides eligible young men and women
with an alternative to pursuing a traditional four-year degree.
Steve Cockburn is the manager of
the mold shop at TE Connectivity, a
company that creates connectors to
harnesses in the automotive industry.
Supervisors like Cockburn are looking
five or 10 years down the road, and

what they see is empty work stations –
with work piling up.
“Right now, you’re seeing a lack of
skilled tradesmen because of the lack
of apprenticeship programs,” Cockburn
said. “A whole slew of apprenticeship
programs were dropped (in recent
decades).”
That’s okay for the immediate term,
Cockburn said, but “in 10 years,
50 percent of that shop will be retired.
We can’t train ‘em fast enough to replace the retirees.”
That’s where students like Hairston
come in. As a junior, he and a parent
attended an open house for TE Connectivity. It was the first step on what
could be a long and lucrative career
path.
After the open house, Hairston applied to the program. He was among
the students who had earned a grade
point average of at least 2.5 and had
taken advanced math courses. Hairston had also demonstrated reliability,
having recorded five or fewer absences
each year in school.
After that, it was simply showing an
interest, said Robin Sharp, HR business
partner for TE Connectivity.
“We invite those who qualify back to
one of our locations,” she explained.

Andrew Hairston, a senior at Northern Guilford High School, works a lathe machine
at TE Connectivity in Greensboro. Andrew goes to school for half a day and works a
shift in the mold shop the rest of the day. Within five years, Hairston has a chance to
earn his journeyman’s card and an associate’s degree – all paid for by TE Connectivity.
The students participate in four
nights of orientation, including two
nights of hands-on experience working
on a project. Simply making it to the
fourth night “helps us determine who
we want to take to the next step,” Sharp
said.
That next step is a six-week summer
schedule. For eight hours a day, five
days a week, the student gets a closer
look at what the job entails. Meanwhile,
the company continues to evaluate the
student in order “to make sure it’s a
good fit for both.”
Students who are invited to continue
along in the process become part of a
ceremony akin to an athlete signing a
national letter of intent to play college
sports. It’s a big deal, Sharp said.

Exclusions apply
The program is not for everybody.
Even those who make it through the
four-night orientation, or even the sixweek summer program, find reasons to
leave.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

“These are high school students,”
Sharp said matter-of-factly. “Some
students decided they wanted to go on
to a four-year university first. Or that it
wasn’t a good fit, especially with some
juniors (who) wanted to continue with
their high school.”
For others, participating in extracurricular activities such as band or sports
is a higher priority. Though Sharp said
being in the apprenticeship program
does not preclude those activities, it
would be “a lot to juggle.”
Hairston was one of 100 people to
attend TE Connectivity’s open house.
Fifteen students were selected for the
orientation and nine made it to the sixweek summer program. Only four were
invited to become an apprentice.
For Hairston, the opportunity makes
too much sense to ignore. During the
summer, he said he talked with several TE Connectivity employees who
had been with the company for up to
30 years. Hairston said he figured if

Precise measurements
are important for Andrew
Hairston, an apprentice at TE
Connectivity. Here, he uses
an electronic device to ensure
accuracy within a certain
degree of tolerance.
Photo by NWO staff writer

an employee stayed there that long,
“you must enjoy what you’re doing. So I
figured, this might not be a bad trade to
get into. I’ve come to really like it.”
Leigh Smith said opportunities such
as this can be hard to come by for some
students.
“It’s a great program,” said Smith,
career development coordinator at
Northern Guilford High School. “These
students have a great job opportunity
in front of them. They get paid to sit in
class. I tell students, ‘you’re not going to
find that anywhere (else).’ And the degree is taken care of. It’s a great thing.”
Smith said even the work required
of students during the four nights of
orientation is impressive.
“The things that they do, I don’t
have those skills,” Smith said. “I have a
little metal train that they built (during)
an orientation exercise. A student was
telling me all the tools he had to put the
train together, and I’m just like, ‘okay,
I’m glad they didn’t ask me to do that.’”
But there is much more to this than
building a toy train. Hairston and other

apprentices will complete 8,000 hours of
training in up to five years. At that point,
a successful apprentice will have earned
a journeyman’s card and an associate’s
degree in machining technology.
“In that 8,000 hours, they’re gonna
learn to mill, grind, do lathe work and
EDM (electrical discharge machining),
learn to weld, be involved with lasers,
learn the metallurgy of the tools we
use,” Cockburn said. “They’ll learn the
fundamentals of a mold – how it works,
different components.”
For Hairston, it seems to be the right
choice.
“It’s great,” he said. “People can
start doing the things they actually like
to do for a job. Most people my age are
working at fast food or retail.”

Photo courtesy of Carol Merritt

“Sam the Pledge Pony,” a miniature horse that serves as Oak Ridge Elementary School’s
mascot, poses with some of his student fans after helping raise money and encouraging
kids to keep running during the school’s 2018 Derby Run on May 2. Through the event
the school’s PTSO raised $38,000, which will be used for technology.

•••••

want to learn more?
Students interested in learning
more about the Guilford Apprenticeship Partners program are encouraged to contact their school’s
career development coordinator.

Oak Ridge Elementary School Principal Denise Francisco (left) dressed in costume to
help support the PTSO’s annual Derby Run on May 2.

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

MAY 17 - 23, 2018

31

GRIPES to...

GRINS and GRIPES


Town of Stokesdale
for not taking better care
of its property. My wife and I voted
at Stokesdale Town Hall and it literally looked like an abandoned building. Weeds everywhere, shrubs not
trimmed and grass a foot tall in places.

Grins & Gripes are published based on available space and editor’s discretion.

GRINS to...

Rachel at Food Lion
in Summerfield for making shopping fun. I specifically
check out in her line to hear stories of
growing up the 12th of 14 kids. If you
see her, ask her to rap – guaranteed to
make your day!

Teachers for speaking out about
how bad North Carolina public school
spending is. You deserve better!

Stokesdale Fire and Rescue for getting me to the hospital so the doctor

could put my hip back into place. You
guys are the best!

Stokesdale Elementary PTA for the
wonderful lunch and the special treats
during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Thank you for your support of our staff.

The Animal Hospital at Lake Brandt
for their amazing staff!

Teachers who view their profession
as a calling and pour their hearts and
souls into educating our students. Your
impact on our children begins in the
classroom, but remains with them for
the rest of their lives.


Republic Services for making no
effort to communicate with customers, ignoring customer requests/complaints, providing inconsistent service,
and offering no apology or compensation for missed service.

Opponents of Trump’s job-creating,
401(k) pension-inflating, wageincreasing and bonus-providing tax
cuts. Where were you when Obama
doubled our national debt? Still waiting for those “shovel-ready” jobs that
weren’t so shovel-ready?

The Town of Stokesdale for the
lawn not being taken care of on Election Day (May 8). Grass not cut and

more weeds than grass.

Todd Rotruck for putting his political ambitions over the interests of
Summerfield residents. It’s bad enough
that the BOE determined he didn’t live
in Summerfield after all, but now Summerfield taxpayers must foot the bill to
defend his frivolous lawsuit.

The person griping about their
child missing school while educators
go to Raleigh on May 16. I’m okay
with keeping my child at home so
our educators can make their voices
heard. They are grossly underpaid and
deserve better.

Republic Services for failing to pick
up my garbage on the regular trash
pickup day after driving by it twice,
and then making me wait a week for
service despite my three phone calls to
them. Inexcusable!

The inconsiderate person in last
week’s “Gripes” section who said that
educators are selfish for making children miss school. It’s selfish of you to

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32

MAY 17 - 23, 2018

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336-727-0120

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

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not understand that teachers are paid
too little for everything that they have
to deal with.

and stop using kids and gullible teachers as pawns! Also, gripes to parents
who fall for the lies.


“Councilman” Rotruck for gaming
the legal system. If he truly cares about
Summerfield, he would resign his position. He can always run again when he
becomes a legal Summerfield resident.


Parents of youth baseball teams
who don’t understand that these are
kids and the objective should be to
have fun.


The agitators who push progressive propaganda about poverty and
teacher pay in their attempt to gain
political power in Raleigh. Stop lying,

NEWS in brief


Protesting teachers. You need to
protest Guilford County Schools for
withholding money from your classrooms to give mega salaries to unnecessary administrators.

...continued from p. 5

UDO Review Committee to
present final recommendations
on May 21
SUMMERFIELD – After averaging two
meetings per month for nine months,
the Unified Development Ordinance
(UDO) Review Committee, appointed by
the Summerfield Town Council last June,
is ready to present its recommendations
to the town’s Zoning Board on May 21.
In a press release written by Summerfield Planning Director Carrie
Spencer on Wednesday, she stated the
committee was formed for the purpose
of engaging the community in a review
of substantive issues within the current
UDO draft.
“The end goal is to adopt a UDO
that is more congruent with the citizencreated Summerfield Comprehensive
Plan,” Spencer stated. “The UDO
Review Committee has worked tirelessly
to complete its charge thoroughly. The
committee has completed an in-depth
review of the UDO draft in comparison
to all policies within the Comprehensive
Plan. Its final report and recommendations will be presented to the Zoning
Board at a special called Zoning Board
meeting, Monday, May 21, at 6 p.m. at
the Summerfield Community Center.”

leave

Spencer stressed the committee was
charged with making recommendations
to the Zoning Board, and specifically to
identify areas in which the draft UDO
does not align with the town’s Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2010.
“The committee was not charged
with drafting ordinance details or making
decisions about town growth,” Spencer
wrote. “Again, these recommendations
do not include specific text changes, but
are meant to guide and direct staff and
the Zoning Board as revisions are drafted. The report also includes overarching
themes from frequently-discussed issues
and public input, along with additional
recommendations to Council. Once
revisions are complete and citizens have
been given time to review them, two
public hearings will be held to adopt a
UDO that will replace the 1997 Development Ordinance.”
The committee’s “Final Report and
Recommendations” can be found at
www.summerfieldgov.com under the
“Town News & Notices” section – scroll
down to “UDO Review Committee,”
and then click on the Dropbox link.

been violated by Town Attorney Bill
Hill and Town Manager Scott Whitaker when they prevented him from being seated at the town council table
at a special call meeting on April
23. Prause requested the court issue
a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Board of Elections from
changing Rotruck’s voter registration
from Summerfield to Greensboro,
and that the matter be remanded to
the BOE for a “new, proper quasijudicial hearing to resolve the (voter
registration) challenge…”
Cromer rendered no decision
on the temporary restraining order,
but then surprised some when he
decided to review Rotruck’s second
lawsuit, which was filed against
the Board of Elections and Janelle
Robinson, the Summerfield resident
who filed a challenge to Rotruck’s
voter registration in February. Cromer
ultimately requested Prause prepare
a draft order on the matter and forward it to Payne for review.
Under the advisement of Gray
Wilson, the attorney hired to represent the town in the Rotruck vs. the
Town of Summerfield lawsuit, the
monthly council meeting scheduled
to take place at 6:30 p.m. on May 10
was cancelled a few hours before it
was to get underway.
The following morning Whitaker
issued a press release in which he
wrote, “A hearing was held May 7 concerning Rotruck v. Town of Summerfield and the decision was delayed
until yesterday, May 10. At that time,
the judge deferred any ruling and did
not grant the temporary restraining
order Mr. Rotruck sought to regain
his Council position. In the separate
appeal by Rotruck of the adverse ruling of the Board of Elections (BOE),
in which the town is not involved, the

34

MAY 17 - 23, 2018

judge ordered a stay of the BOE’s
order.
While the judge’s decision in
our case was welcomed, the town’s
legal counsel is of the opinion that
the Council seat remains vacant,”
Whitaker continued. “Legal counsel
further recommended that the town
not proceed with last night’s meeting
to afford time to better sort through
the matter. Most of the elected body
concurred, the focus was to quickly
notify the public, and staff implemented that directive.”
Whitaker noted that not all, but a
majority of council members agreed
it was best to cancel the council
meeting.

BITS & PIECES

...continued from p. 10

let it be with me as You wish it to be. I
humbly accept this call.”
Foltz, who is warmly referred to by
her congregation as “Pastor Carol,” was
one of two among 84 candidates to be
elected by Synod. The Southern Province has 15,400 members in 55 congregations and 10 fellowship groups
located in four states: North Carolina,
Virginia, Georgia and Florida.
A native of Forsyth County, Foltz
attended Parkland High School and
graduated from UNC Greensboro

before going on to Moravian Theological Seminary. On June 11, 1978, she
became the first woman to be ordained
in the Moravian Church, Southern
Province.
Foltz has served Moravia Moravian
Church since 2015. As she continues
there, she will also now serve as a pastor for pastors, prayer intercessor for the
worldwide church and spiritual guide to
the denomination.
For more info about Moravia Moravian Church, call (336) 643-5166.

Rotruck argues that the judge’s actions on May 10 are a positive for him,
and his council seat is not vacant.
“The judge did not rule on the
temporary restraining order,” he
confirmed in an email to the Northwest Observer on Wednesday. “We
received something better, a stay on
the BOE (Board of Elections) decision, which means my residency has
not changed and the town’s legal
opinion is further obstructing my
constitutional rights.”
County Attorney Mark Payne told
the Northwest Observer that as of
Wednesday morning, no final order
has been entered and it appears the
judge wants further discussion on the
matter.
“At this time no final decision has
been entered and it is premature to
guess what it might be,” Payne wrote
in an email. In a follow-up email,
Payne wrote that the likely time for
the additional hearing will be next
Thursday, May 24.
As for the May town council
meeting, Whitaker said it has not
been rescheduled and may not occur this month. The budget meeting
scheduled for May 31, however, is
still on schedule.

The following are some of the
comments posted on the Northwest
Observer’s Facebook page after the
Summerfield Town Council meeting
was cancelled last Thursday, a few
hours before it was to begin. The
decision to cancel the meeting came
after a judge’s actions on Thursday morning left the status of Todd
Rotruck’s council seat uncertain.
• “As a resident, I cannot imagine
how a person not living in our town
as declared by the BOE is allowed
to keep his seat during appeal.”
• “… I really hate to say it but I think
it’s comical because if it wasn’t this
it would be something else involving
the council. It really seems pretty
clear that his primary residence is
NOT and has not been in Summerfield for about 2 years as I
recall the Observer reporting and
the laws clearly state he must live
in Summerfield to be eligible. How

The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996

he thinks he’s entitled to that seat
is mind boggling unless there’s
some loophole which hasn’t been
disclosed yet. … Summerfield is a
beautiful town with great people
but it really needs to get its act
together.” – Kevin O.
• “I think the relationship between
Rotruck and Prause (the attorney
representing Rotruck in the lawsuits
he has filed in which the Town of
Summerfield, the Board of Elections
and Janelle Robinson are named
as defendants) ... they are business partners. Wilson Street Manor,
Company Officials. All LLCs are
managed by their managers pursuant to N.C.G.S. 57D-3-20. Managing Member: D Marsh Prause, 516
Woodlawn Ave. Greensboro NC
27401. Managing Member: Todd
Rotruck, 3629 Lewiston Road,
Greensboro NC 27410. And check
out the address listed (for Rotruck).”

Planning & Zoning Board is forwarded as
a recommendation to the Oak Ridge Town
Council.
Planning & Zoning Board: May 24, 2018,
7pm, at Oak Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville
Road
Town Council: June 7, 2018, 7pm, at Oak
Ridge Town Hall, 8315 Linville Road
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
REZONING CASE #RZ-18-03: The Town

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and the Town Council of the Town of Oak
Ridge have been requested to rezone
property from AG (Agricultural) to RS-40
(Residential. The property is located on the
south side of Forsyth Rd., approximately
3437 feet south of the intersection with Oak
Guilford County Tax Parcel #0168305, consisting of approximately 27.06 acres. Located in the Greensboro (GW-III) Watershed.
Owned by VANCO Properties LLC.
REZONING CASE #RZ-18-04: The Town
of Oak Ridge Planning and Zoning Board
and the Town Council of the Town of Oak
Ridge have been requested to rezone property from CU-LB (Conditional Use Limited
eral Business). The property is located on
the east side of NC Highway 68 North, ap-

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section of NC Highway 68 North and Oak
Ridge Rd., in Oak Ridge Township. Being
0166234, consisting of approximately 3.164
acres. Located in the Greensboro (GW-III)


PUBLIC NOTICE

Watershed. Owned by Twilight Outparcel

TOWN OF OAK RIDGE
PUBLIC HEARING
The Oak Ridge Town Council and the Town
of Oak Ridge Planning & Zoning Board will
hold separate public hearings to consider
requests to amend the Official Town of Oak
Ridge Zoning Map. The Planning & Zoning
Board and Town Council may also consider
requests for subdivisions and other matters.


SAVE THE DATE
CHANGE THE WORLD SERVICE DAY,
Saturday, May 19, Oak Ridge United Methodist Church. Breakfast at 8am, followed by
worship and a day of opportunities to serve
both locally and globally. See display ad in
our May 10 issue for all the details.
Stop & Shop LULAROE POP-UP SHOPPE
Huge gift basket giveaway up for grabs!
Join Lularoe, Lipsense, Paparazzi and Vantel Pearls for a one-stop shopping experience Saturday, May 19, 10am-3pm, at the
Oak Ridge Room, beside Bistro 150 in the
Lowes Foods shopping center, Oak Ridge.
Leggings giveaway at the door! Come pop a
balloon for more prizes. For more info, text
(336) 706-8811.
Join us for MUSIC ON THE LAWN at Spring
Arbor of Greensboro, Thursday, May 24,
6pm, 5125 Michaux Road, Greensboro. For
all the details, see display ad on page 14? .
RUN THE RIDGE GLOW, Friday night,
June 1, at Oak Ridge Town Park. See display ad on page 7 of this issue, or register
online at merchantsofoakridge.com.
TOUCH A TRUCK FUNDRAISER at the
Piedmont Triad Farmers Market in Colfax,
Sat., June 23, 10am-2pm. Goodie bags for
kids! $5/person, $20/family. Come see us!

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